SIMULATION TECHNIQUES IMPLEMENTATION TO REDUCE PRODUCTION LEAD TIMES IN SMEs

Abstract- Simulation is one of the most effective methods in the Design of Manufacturing Systems. Typical reasons for the simulation of a manufacturing system includes evaluating the capacity and equipment utilisation, identifying bottlenecks in the system, comparing the performance of alternative designs [1]. The potential benefits in using simulation are very large. Simulation can help users by contributing in design, in management and in the decision making of production systems. It is also able to model all kinds of company processes: physical, informational and decisional. Simulation models can be built at all hierarchical (operational, tactical, strategic) and detailing levels (machine, cell, shop, etc…). Moreover, the whole manufacturing system life cycle can be modelled and simulated (design, analysis, implementation, operation, etc…). This paper discusses case studies where modelling and simulation were used to evaluate and improve the performance of manufacturing systems. In all cases ProModel simulation package was used